Dua Lipa's Seoul show in limbo after martial law drama – Will it happen or not?
Fans are anxiously waiting as South Korea grapples with the aftermath of political turmoil.
Will Dua Lipa’s 'Radical Optimism Tour' take the stage in Seoul?
Fans are anxiously waiting as South Korea grapples with the aftermath of political turmoil.
This comes after a dramatic turn of events, with President Yoon Suk Yeol declaring emergency martial law on Tuesday, only for the National Assembly to swiftly vote to lift it early Wednesday, around six hours after Yoon declared it.
Naturally, fans are left wondering if the concert will still go on as scheduled as the status on the pop star's concert remains radio silence.
Prior to the emergency martial law being lifted, it was reported that the South Korean entertainment industry came to a "halt", with emergency notices warning artists to avoid attending any scheduled events in the coming days or weeks.
Pop Base wrote on X (formerly Twitter), saying K-Pop artists allegedly received instructions to not attend any events after the maritial law.
"K-pop artists from major entertainment companies are reportedly receiving continuous calls to refrain from attending events, following the emergency martial law.
"Festivals and events are being canceled nationwide," the media posted yesterday.
The uncertainty has driven fans to Live Nation Korea’s Instagram, where the comments section is buzzing with questions about the fate of the concert.
Instagram user Seo Jin urged the organiser to release a statement on the concert since many fans like her are wondering whether the shows goes or no.
"As soon as possible... Please advise if the show will be held today. I'm wondering if I should cancel the train and lodging," she said.
Meanwhile, Kang Ki-joo expressed frustration, questioning organisers silence and delay in making an announcement.
"What are you really doing? Why aren't you making an announcement? Moreover, it is a weekday concert. Is it so hard to upload a single post?
"Do you know that only people in the metropolitan area are coming to the concert? If this happens, people will stop trusting Live Nation. There's less than half a day left until the performance starts. What are they doing?" she said.
Another fan, Dilara Kılıçarslan, echoed the frustrations of many who had traveled or planned to travel to attend the concert, emphasising the logistical challenges faced by those coming from outside Seoul.
She pointed out that fans had made significant arrangements, including booking transportation and accommodations, and deserved clarity from the organizers.
"The thing is, not everyone lives in Seoul, so they have to get there by train or bus first. Some people have also booked hotels because of this event.
"It's on a weekday, and we'll be going from work or even using vacation days for this concert. I think you should make a clear announcement so we can all proceed as planned. When are you going to put up the notice instead? It’s 10.30am, and there’s still no notice," she said.
The Seoul concert marks one of her stops in her tour, following her performances in Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and most recently Malaysia and Thailand.
The pop icon has been receiving widespread praise for her high-energy sets and powerful vocals, making her return to South Korea even more meaningful after her 2020 concert was canceled due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Live Nation Malaysia has not issued any statement as well.
